Latch handle



July 6, 1965 B. s. SAUTER 3,193,342

LATCH HANDLE Filed May 27, 1963 I 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 I NVEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,193,342 LATCH HANDLE Bobbie S. Santer, Van Nays, Calii, assignor to Deutsch Fastener Corp, Los Angcles, Califi, a corporation of California Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 283,329 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-320) This invention pertains to a handle that includes a latching element so that it may be used to lock one memher to another, as well as to serve the conventional purpose of a handle.

Latching handles have come into widespread use in association with items such as removable drawers or modular units of electronic component assemblies. These latching devices generally include a pivotal lever associated with a handle, the lever having an end projecting beyond the handle which is adapted to engage a detent for locking the separable unit in place. The end of the lever also is provided with cam surfaces for facilitating both installation and removal of the item with which it is associated.

One of the principal advantages of the present invention is its simplicity and low cost, while at the same time it is of rugged and reliable construction. Assembly time in the, manufacture of the invention is cut to a minimum by the type of design employed. The invention also has the advantage of being easily repairable, contrasted with the usual latch handle where the assembly is permanent and the entire unit must be discarded if any component is damaged or worn. An additional provision is included to prevent inadvertent rotation of the lever when the device with which it is associated is being pushed into place, thereby enhancing the performance of the latching handle. I

These improvements are accomplished through a structure in which the handle unit has slotted ends adapted to receive the mounting pins of the movable portions of the device. The slots are covered and the pivot pins are retained by means of sleeves that are pressed onto the ends of the handle and held by a friction fit.

An object of this invention is to provide a low cost latching handle device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a latching handle that can be repaired without difiiculty.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simplified assembly procedure for constructing latch handles by a minimum of labor by relatively unskilled personnel.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a latching handle in which the lever will not rotate upon use of the device until manually manipulated.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the latching handle of the invention associated with the parts being secured,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the handle in the closed position,

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view ment of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the handle in the released position, and

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the components of the latching handle of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the latching handle 10 of this invention is adapted to secure a movable element such as a drawer 11 to a fixed frame or cabinet 12. The handle assembly includes a substantially U-shaped body 13 provided with a longitudinally extending slot 14 in the of the arrangeelongated central portion 15. This slot extends into the end legs 16 and 17, but stops short of their outer edges 18 and 19. The slot 14 is adapted to receive an elongated lever 20 which is pivotal about the axis of a pin 21 at the lower end of the lever. This pin projects transversely outward on either side of the lever. A locking member 22 at the upper end of the handle serves to hold the lever 20 within the slot 14. With the lever in this position (seen in FIGURES l and 3) the hook end 23 of lever 20, which projects beyond the pivotal mounting pin 21, engages a pin 24 on the keeper 25 which is carried by the fixed frame 12. This prevents the handle and its associated member 11 from moving away from the fixed element 12.

Upon release of the detent 22 and moving of the lever 20 downwardly to the position of FIGURE 5, the hook end 23 releases the pin 24 so that the handle and member 11 may be separated from the fixed frame 12. As this movement takes place the arcuate outer surface 26 of the end 23 engages the adjacent wall 27 of the keeper 25, acting as a cam to pry the movable member 11 away from the fixed frame 12. Hence, there is both a releasing of the handle and a moving of the unit outwardly as the lever 20 is moved to the open position.

Return to the separable member 11 to the fixed unit 12 essentially is a reversal of the releasing procedure. The member 11 is slid inwardly to the position of FIGURE 5. Then upon rotation of the lever 20 upwardly into the slot 14 the inner surface 28 of the end 23 of the lever engages the pin 24 of the keeper 25, and acts as a second cam for moving the member 11 to the position of FIG- URE 2.

Thus, the end 23 performs three functions. It holds the members 11 and 12 together when the lever is in the retracted position within the slot 14. Secondly, when the member 11 is to be removed from the fixed portion 12 the outer surface of the end 23 forms a cam that prys the separable unit away from the fixed member. Lastly, when the components are to be reassembled the end 23 has a further surface that acts as a second cam in drawing the elements together to their contacting position.

In keeping with the simplified construction of the device of this invention, and in eliecting its manufacture at a minimum cost, the handle portions 13 may be constructed of molded plastic. At the ends 18 and 19 of outer legs 16 and 17 are placed threaded inserts 29 and 30. These may be secured to the handle body 13 in the molding process. This avoids the necessity of drilling and tapping holes to receive the screws 31 and 32 which are used in holding the body 13 of the handle to the member 11.

Formed in the end legs 16 and 17 are transverse slots 33 and 34 that communicate with the end portions of the longitudinal slot 14. The slot 34 receives the pivot pin 21 of the lever 20. In a similar manner, the pin 35 of detent 22 fits into slot 33. The detent 22 is provided with a notch 36 in its upper surface in which is inserted a small compression spring 37.

In assembling the lever 20 to the body 13 of the unit, therefore, the pin 21 is dropped into the slot 34. After this sleeve 38 is fitted over the end leg 17. Consequently, the sleeve 38 retains the pin 21 in the slot 34 which secures the lever 20 to the body 13.

The attachment of the detent 22 is generally the same, by inserting the pin 35 into the slot 33. The compression spring 37 will be fitted into the notch 36 prior to this time. Sleeve 39 over leg 16 holds the pin 35 in place so that the detent is retained to the handle body 13.

Preferably the end legs 16 and 17 are square in cross section, and the sleeves 38 and 39 may constitute lengths of square tubing. The sleeves fit on to the end legs 'by a force fit and ar'e frictionally retained in place. Thus,

It can be disassembled merely by pulling the sleeves 38 and 39 off of the end sections of the handle 13. Then the needed components can be replaced and the unit put back together'as before.

Despite the simple nature of the device of this inventionand the ease with which it is assembled it-operates fully as satisfactory as any prior latching handle designs.

-.It may be noted that the lever adjacent-the pin 21 includes an arcuate exterior surface 40 that is rotatable about'the wall of the chamber defined by the end of the slot 14 and the inner surface of the sleeve 37. Thus,

even though lever is held by a pin that is received within a slot there is no excessive clearance at its pivotal mounting. And notch 41 adjacent'this rounded surface provides clearance for the rotational movement-of the lever ,despite thepresence of the sleeve 37. The outer surface 42 of the detent 22 is similar to the surface 40 of the lever in thatit can provide a bearing surface during ,rotation of the detent, and takes up'clearance at the pivotal mounting for the detent.

.The detent 22 can'be moved simply by pushing upwardly on the surface 43 that extends across the inner corner of the handle and'projects beyond the wall of the handle body 13. This makes it easy to effect disengagement of the lock .4 of thendetent from the bifurcated -.end 45 of the lever thatreceives it. Additionally, if desired, the outer edge 46 of the detent may be serrated. as illustrated so that the detent canbe operated either from the exterior or the interior of the handle.

When the two partsbeing secured are slid together the'outer surface 26 of the end 23 of the lever will be brought nto contact with the Wall .27 of the keeper as seen in FIGURE 5. This has a tendency to cause an undesired rotation of the .lever 20 toward the closed position without actual manipulation of the lever. Such pivotal movement is prevented in the design of this invention by the inclusion of a notch 48 adjacent the inner cam surface 28 of the lever end. Thisvnotch initially engages the keeper pin 24 when the parts are moved to ward each other. When the pin 24 in the slot 48 inadvertent rotation of the lever cannot take place. Of course,

- subsequently when the lever is grasped and moved upwardly the pin 24 is moved out of the notch 48. The

closing of the lever may be cushioned by providing a re- 7 silient bumper 49 on the inner wall of the lever.

From the foregoing it may be seen that I have provided a latching handle produced by a simplified assembly process which nevertheless achieves a design of superior performance. All of the component parts are easily madeand the device can be repaired if this is necessary.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim: a

1. A latching handle comprising a substantially U-shaped member adapted for attachment at its outer ends to an object, 7

said member having a duality of notchestherein,

a pin in each of said notches,

a lever pivotal about the axis of one of said pins,

said leverhaving a portion projecting beyond said U-shaped member for engagementwith an adjacent object i V i for securing an object associated with said U- shaped member to' said adjacent object, detent means pivotal about the axis of the other of 1 said pins V e for releasably holding said lever adjacent said U-shaped member, and a sleeve extending over each of said notches for retaining the pin therein. 2. A latching handle comprising a substantially U-shaped member adapted for attachment at its outer ends to a movable object,

said member being provided with a transversely extending slot adjacent either end thereof, and

having a longitudinally extending slotintercom:

necting said transversely extending slots, a lever adapted to fit within said longitudinally extending slot, V a pin in one of said transversely extending slots,

said lever being pivotally mounted about the axis .Of said pin, 1 said lever having a projection extending beyond said U-shaped member for engaging an adjacent object :for securing said U-shaped member to said adjacent object, a spring-pressed locking member for holding said lever in said longitudinally extending slot, a second pin in the other' of said transversely extending slots,

.said locking member being pivotally mounted about "the axis of said secondvpin, said locking member being adapted for engagement with end portions of said lever for releasably holding said lever in said longitudinaly extending slot, and a sleeve extending'over either end of said U-shaped member, I

each sleeve extending over the transversely extending notch in the end portion with which it is associated. v p 3. A latching handle device comprising a substantially U-shaped body member,

having two outer'legs interconnected by a-central portion,

said body member having a longitudinal slot extending from a location adjacent andinwardly of the outer end'of the first outer leg thereof to a'location adjacent and inwardly of the outer end of the second outer leg thereof,

said outer ends of said outer legs being adapted V for connection to a movable object,

said body having a first transverse recess extending inwardly from one side of said first outer leg and communicating with said slot,

and a second transverse recess extending inwardly from one side of said second outer leg and communicating with saidslot,

- a lever receivable in said slot, 7 V e a first transverse pin .at one end portion of said lever,

said'first transverse pin extending into said first transverse recess, p

said lever having a hook extension projecting beyond said first transverse pin and outwardly of said body for engagement with an adjacent relatively stationary object,

a locking member engageable with said lever for securing said lever within said slot, resilient means biasing said locking member toward said lever,

a second transverse pinv at one end portion of said locking member, I d said second transverse pin extending into said second transverse recess, j and a sleeve means on' either of said outer legs extending over the transverse recess therein for retaining said transverse pins in said recesses. 4. A device as recited in claim 3 in which said one side of said first outer leg is the side remote from said second outer leg, and said one side of said second outer leg is the side adjacent said first outer leg. 5. A device as recited in claim 3 in which said sleeve means are frictionally retained on said outer legs. 6. A device as recited in claim 3 including a threaded insert in the outer end of either of said outer legs for receiving screws for securing said body to a movable object. 7. A device as recited in claim 3 in which said locking member is provided with a recess in one side thereof,

and said resilient means comprises a coil spring one end of which is received in said recess in said locking member, and the other end of which bears against said bedy member in said longitudinal slot for thereby biasing said locking member toward said lever.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,609,268 9/52 Nye 312-320 2,926,056 2/60 Newcomer et a1. 312-320 3,011,851 12/61 Verga et a1. 312-320 3,111,338 11/63 Kimble 312320 X 15 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A LATCHING HANDLE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT AT ITS OUTER ENDS TO AN OBJECT, SAID MEMBER HAVING A DUALITY OF NOTCHES THEREIN, A PIN IN EACH OF SAID NOTCHES, A LEVER PIVOTAL ABOUT THE AXIS OF ONE OF SAID PINS, SAID LEVER HAVING A PORTION PROJECTING BEYOND SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER FOR ENGAGAGEMENT WITH AN ADJACENT OBJECT FOR SECURING AN OBJECT ASSOCIATED WITH SAID USHAPED MEMBER TO SAID ADJCENT OBJECT, DETENT MEANS PIVOTAL ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE OTHER OF SAID PINS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDINGG SAID LEVER ADJACENT SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER, AND A SLEEVE EXTENDING OVER EACH OF SAID NOTCHES FOR RETAINING THE PIN THEREIN. 